AG indicts Former MP Sajin De Vass Gunawardane over money laundering

AG indicts Former MP Sajin De Vass Gunawardane over money laundering

Written by Staff Writer

08 Aug, 2019 | 4:30 pm

Written by Staff Writer
08 Aug, 2019 | 4:30 pm

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Colombo (News 1st): The Attorney General today (August 8) indicted Former MP Sajin De Vass Gunawardane on the charge of money laundering under the Money Laundering Act at the Colombo High Court. A statement from State Counsel Nishara Gunaratne, the AGs Coordinating Officer noted the scam was unearthed during an investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department.

The Attorney General’s Department said the CID investigation revealed Gunawardane owned a group of companies under the name COSMOS, which had 21 companies under it, at the time he had submitted nominations to contest the 2010 Parliamentary Election.

The AG notes that though Gunawardane resigned from the directorship of all companies and transferred his shares to his wife, before becoming an MP, the evidence revealed the effectively ran the full operation of the companies even after becoming an MP.

The CID investigation revealed Sajin Vass Gunawardane made a suspicious transaction using 07 out of the 21 companies. The Attorney General’s Department said Sajin Vass Gunawardane failed to explain how he earned such an income to make deposits especially at a time when he was acting as an elected member of Parliament.